Vice President Kamala Harris has come under fire for the Biden administration's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, a move she and President Joe Biden oversaw in 2021. Harris, however, continues to deflect blame towards former President Donald Trump, pointing to the deal his administration made with the Taliban in 2020. She argues that the agreement left her and Biden with limited options and a ticking clock to evacuate American forces and civilians.
Harris recently doubled down on her stance, reiterating that Trump’s deal with the Taliban, made without consulting the Afghan government, set up the administration for failure. The deal outlined that U.S. forces would withdraw by May 2021, a timeline the Biden administration pushed back but ultimately followed. Harris maintains that Trump’s framework left them with an impossible task: withdrawing troops under unsafe conditions while the Taliban gained strength.
Afghanistan disastrous withdraw – Comrade Kamala approved – as a “ last person in a room “ ! Is this horrible incompetence do we all need ?!?!? pic.twitter.com/Ckj4GYa16D
— Larisa Hulewsky (@HulewskyL) September 9, 2024
Critics, however, argue that the Biden-Harris administration had months to plan a more orderly exit but failed. The withdrawal, which culminated in the Taliban’s rapid takeover of Afghanistan, resulted in the deaths of 13 U.S. service members during a suicide bombing at the Kabul airport, among other tragic consequences. Harris, who confirmed being the “last person in the room” during discussions on the withdrawal, continues to face backlash from both Republicans and Democrats for her role in the decision-making process.
Retired generals have rallied behind Harris, attempting to shift the blame back onto Trump. They argue that the Biden administration inherited an ill-conceived plan that made a safe withdrawal nearly impossible. These military leaders emphasize that Trump's release of 5,000 Taliban prisoners as part of his agreement further destabilized the situation, making it difficult for Biden and Harris to manage a smooth transition.
WATCH: Gold Star Father Jim McCollum calls on Kamala Harris to apologize from the debate stage tonight for her role in the Afghanistan withdrawal that took his son's life. pic.twitter.com/kmraKdoq0o
— TV News Now (@TVNewsNow) September 10, 2024
Yet, many are unsatisfied with Harris's explanations. Republicans, in particular, have used the Afghanistan withdrawal as a focal point in their criticisms of the Biden administration. They point to the chaos that ensued—Americans and Afghan allies stranded, billions of dollars of military equipment left behind, and a new wave of global instability. Harris's involvement in these decisions, as well as her confirmation that she was deeply involved in the final stages of the planning, makes her a target for both political and military accountability.
The Afghanistan withdrawal has become a major campaign issue, with Trump and his allies using it to highlight what they describe as the Biden-Harris administration's incompetence in foreign policy. They assert that a more cautious approach, such as keeping a small residual force in the region, could have prevented the Taliban’s swift takeover and the subsequent loss of life.
In contrast, Harris continues to frame the situation as a problem she inherited, emphasizing that the deal Trump brokered left no room for alternatives. Her supporters argue that the administration did what they could under the circumstances, managing the largest airlift in U.S. history and ending a 20-year war, despite facing a precarious situation left by the previous administration.
The fallout from the withdrawal will likely continue to haunt Harris as she prepares for the 2024 election, where foreign policy will remain a critical issue. With Republicans pushing to keep Afghanistan front and center in the campaign, Harris will face ongoing scrutiny over her handling of the situation, and the Biden administration’s response will be a key focus during debates.
